Medicine In Ancient India

Question 1

Who was the Hindu God of Medicine?

Answer 1

Dhavantari

Question 2

Who was Dhavantari?

Answer 2

The Hindu God of Medicine, birthed in the sea when demons and gods where at war.
Known also as the physician of the gods, divine physician.

Question 3

Hindu medicine was based on?

Answer 3

Philosophy

Question 4

Ancient Indian medicine was philosophical, It was believed that

Answer 4

For one to enjoy good health, one must live a strictly pure and moral life and must help his fellow men and other creatures, etc.

Question 5

What are the two periods in ancient Indian medicine?

Answer 5

Veda period

Brahma period

Question 6

When was the Vedic period in ancient Indian medicine?

Answer 6

Prehistoric time - 8000 BC

Question 7

What is the meaning of Veda?

Answer 7

Knowledge
Veda was raw, unsophisticated knowledge
The source of all knowledge

Question 8

What had Veda taught Indians?

Answer 8

Verda taught Indians:

How to live in peace with the gods

How to secure protection

How to maintain good health

Question 9

What is Ayurvedic medicine?

Answer 9

Ayur means life , Veda means knowledge
An ancient Indian medical system based on ancient writings which rely on natural and holistic approaches to health by cleansing the body to restore balance to the body, mind and spirit.

Question 10

Treatises written on Ayurvedic medicine include?

Answer 10

Susruta Samhita
(Compendium of susruta; areas of surgery and snake venom antidotes)

Charaka Samhita
(Compendium of Charaka; Studied anatomy of the human body and various organs)

Vaghbata

Question 11

When was the Brahmanic period in ancient Indian medicine?

Answer 11

5000 BC - 1000AD (late Vedic period)

Question 12

Where were doctors placed in the Indian caste system during the Brahmanic period?

Answer 12

3rd class 
I.e, Kings—> Priests—> Doctors

Question 13

What was the diagnosis method used in the Brahmanic period?

Answer 13

Asking questions

Physical examinations with investigations

Question 14

What were the forms of therapeutics used in the Brahmanic period?

Answer 14

— Diet

— Use of extensive pharmacopeia

— Surgery

— Started cauterization

— Started using bandages for burns ( burns classified into 4 types)

— Attempted removal of goitres and tumors, although surgeries where hindered by lack of anaesthesia, sepsis and blood loss

— Prayers, incarnations and sacrifice usually followed

Question 15

What were the achievements of ancient Indian medicine?

Answer 15

— Classification of the body into 3 systems, using the ‘Tridosha theory’

— Extensive knowledge of fevers, able to diagnose different fevers

— Specialization in branches of medicine started

— Leprosy was regarded as infectious

— Associated tuberculosis with spitting and plague to rats

— Standardization of medical education

— introduction of apprenticeship

Question 16

What were the limitations of ancient Indian medicine?

Answer 16

— Caste system did not allow for social mobility and thus people could not learn medical practice freely

— Lack of anaesthesia

— Surgeries were mostly associated with complications of infections